How to Turn Off the Engine?
4 Answers
Simply bring the car to a stop, then shift the gear to neutral (for automatic transmission cars, shift to P), press the one-touch start button to turn off the engine, and finally engage the handbrake. The detailed steps are as follows: 1. Press the clutch and brake pedals: Simultaneously press the clutch and brake pedals until the vehicle comes to a complete stop, then shift the gear to neutral. 2. Press the one-touch start to turn off the engine: Press the one-touch start button to turn off the engine, engage the parking brake, and then release all pedals. At this point, the engine shutdown is complete. 3. Important notes: Do not press the brake pedal abruptly, as this may cause the engine to stall due to the traction force from the gear, potentially damaging the engine. Always engage the handbrake to prevent the car from rolling.
Turning off the engine is actually quite simple, depending on whether you're driving a manual or automatic transmission. For manual transmission drivers, first bring the car to a complete stop and press the brake, shift the gear to neutral, engage the handbrake, then turn the key counterclockwise all the way to shut off the engine. Automatic transmission is even easier—press the foot brake fully, shift to P (Park) gear, engage the electronic parking brake, and then turn off the key. The key point is to ensure the car is completely stopped before operating. Last time, my neighbor turned off the engine without engaging the handbrake, and the car rolled downhill and hit a tree. Hybrid or electric models might not have a keyhole; just find the button with a red steering wheel icon and press it for three seconds.
Before turning off the engine, confirm these steps: First, switch off power-consuming devices like the AC and headlights, especially for turbocharged cars—let the cooling fan run for a while. For manual transmissions, remember to press both the clutch and brake simultaneously to avoid body shake during shutdown. The key is to wait until the tachometer needle fully returns to zero before removing the key—many beginners rush off, risking sudden loss of power steering. I make it a habit to straighten the steering wheel before shutdown to protect the steering system. For turbocharged cars, it’s best to wait another 30 seconds to let the intercooler dissipate residual heat.
The shutdown methods vary significantly across different car models. For traditional key ignition vehicles, locate the keyhole on the right side of the steering wheel and turn it counterclockwise to the end. For push-button start models, typically press the start button while stepping on the brake. Older diesel vehicles require pulling the shutdown lever located beneath the steering wheel. Last time I drove my friend's Tesla, I was confused and had to swipe up the menu at the bottom of the central control screen to find the power-off button. Always remember to check that the dashboard is completely dark after shutting down to ensure safety. Once, my screen was still on, and I thought the car was off, which resulted in a dead battery and required a rescue call.
